Well done, that Aamba!

HIGHLY COMMENDED

2024

carved pearl shell (Riji) red ochre, ball chain and clips

pearl shell discs 6 cm diameter (each)

In Bard, Jawi Lore, Guwan are the cast-off scales of our creation spirit as it burst out of the ocean and crashed upon the rocky shore of our saltwater Buru, north of Broome, Western Australia. When Guwan is shaped and carved, these shells then become Riji. This is where they are charged with purpose and power, and given their spiritual significance through Lore and our creation stories. At their simplest they represent the incredible gift of life.

This year, as I reflect on my past, I have realised one really important thing: I am still here. By reimagining and re-creating my Australian Defence Force-issued identity discs as Riji, I have taken our easy-to-identify Australian dog tags and flipped their significance, to celebrate all that I am today. Our brass identity discs had one major purpose when issued. If found on our body – injured or dead – they identified who we were, right down to our “God-bothering” needs and our Blood group.

I have survived those discs and their original purpose, I continue to survive my own mental health illnesses and battles, I have survived my own attempt at suicide, I have survived cancer and I am alive. ‘Well done, that Aamba!’